governance
(ˈgʌvənəns)
Forms: 4–6 governaunce, (5 governaunc, -awnce), 4–6 go(u)verna(u)nce, -a(u)ns(e, (6 govirnance, guevernans), 4– governance.
[a. OF. gouvernance, f. gouverner: see govern and -ance. Cf. med.L. gubernantia (14th c.).]
1. The action or manner of governing (see senses of the vb.); the fact that (a person, etc.) governs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 346 Þis stiward..failiþ in governaunce of þe Chirche. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. Contents, As wel for the governance of a clokke as for to fynde the altitude Meridian. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 69 To remembre and se to the good gouernaunce of his people. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Pref. 2 By Goddes gouvernaunce. 1628 Coke On Litt. Pref., Good governance and full right is done to every man. 1643 Milton Divorce ii. iii. (1851) 69 Without any wry thoughts cast upon divine governance. a 1677 Barrow Pope's Suprem. (1680) 57 The Bishop's governance should be so gentle and easie, that men hardly can be unwilling to comply with it. 1850 J. H. Newman Diffic. Anglic. 7 It is but one aspect of the state, or mode of civil governance. 1866 Ferrier Grk. Philos. I. xiv. 427 The strict governance of his own passions. 1873 Browning Red Cott. Nt.-cap iv. 50 All my belongings..I have submitted wholly..to your rule and governance. 1879 Farrar St. Paul I. 319 A fresh proof of the immediate governance of God. 1884 Longm. Mag. Mar. 493 Rules..for the governance of racing. |
b. Controlling, directing, or regulating influence; control, sway, mastery.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. i. (1495) 100 The ouer membres gyuyth influence and gouernance to the nether. 1789 Burney Hist. Mus. (ed. 2) IV. v. 186 An irascible spirit under no great governance. 1863 Kinglake Crimea (1876) I. vii. 113 A power..which could exert more governance over Turkish statesmen. 1883 Ruskin Art Eng. (1884) 225 Over these hours and colours of the scene, his governance was all but complete. |
† c. in or under (a person's) governance: subject to his control. So to have, hold, take in governance. Obs.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Mathias 126 Þe towne..quhare pylat presydent was, & had in gouernance þe place. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1044 Thisbe, Fortune that hath the world in governaunce. c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 58 Two in gouernaunce it takid, An aungel freende, an aungil foo. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 31 Saint Benet had many abbeys under hys gouernaunce. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlv. 10 Discretioun and considerance Ar both out of hir [love's] gouirnance. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xiii. (1534) 48 b, Vertue hath all thinge vnder gouernaunce. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 22 §11 Your said issue..shalbe & remaine..at and in the gouernance of their naturall mother. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, The heartes of kynges are in thy rule and gouernaunce. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) iii. 24 Body and gudis to haif in govirnance. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. iii. 50 What, shall King Henry be a Pupill still, Vnder the surly Glosters Gouernance? 1824 Bentham Anarchical Fallacies Wks. 1843 II. 520 The governed are to have the governors under their governance. |
† d. The state of being governed; good order; esp. in to set in governance. Obs.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 339 And thus the faders ordenaunce This londe hath set in governaunce. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4958 Elde [can]..set men..In good reule and in governaunce. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 38 Whose countries he redus'd to quiet state, And shortly brought to civile governaunce. |
2. The office, function, or power of governing; authority or permission to govern; † the command (of a body of men, a ship).
| c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 814 He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond To han the gouernance of hous and lond. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xvii. 77 [Þai] will noȝt suffer men to hafe gouernaunce of þe rewme. c 1449 Pecock Repr. Prol. 1 Seint Poul ȝeueth not to Thimothe instruccioun of eny hiȝer gouernaunce than [etc.]. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 14 He that hath grete myght & gouernaunce in this worlde ought to haue no grete reioyssyng. 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 20 §1 The King..Willeth..that Thomas Lovell Knyght have the guydyng and governaunce of the seid Edmond. c 1500 Melusine xxxvi. 254 And gaaf hym the gouernaunce of a houndred men of armes. a 1546 G. Wishart tr. Confes. Fayth Sweserlandes in Wodr. Soc. Misc. (1844) 11 Holy wrytte..shulde be the owne interpretour, the rule of charite and faythe hauynge gouernaunce. 1563 B. Googe Eglogs (Arb.) 102 And thou that hast the gouernaunce of all, O myghty God. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scot. (1813) II. App. i. 133 They may commit the governance thereof to the next heir of the crown. 1884 J. Payne Tales fr. Arabic I. 112 And Kisra the king invested him with the governance of one of the provinces of his empire. |
† b. quasi-concr. That which governs; governing person or body. Obs.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. viii. (? 1573) E j, For certayne they that haue the charge of a prynce, be the..gouernance of people. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 3 Beleeue we ought, this Sun to be..the principall gouernance of nature. 1643 Prynne Sov. Power Parl. ii. 60 Persons of estate..elected to counsell and assist the governance. |
† 3. The manner in which something is governed or regulated; method of management, system of regulations. In Pecock often: A rule of practice, a discipline. Obs.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxii. 232 Now schalle I tell ȝou the Governance of the Court. 1421 Petition in Sharp Cov. Myst. (1825) 181 Hit wer good Governauns, that every ward kept hem within her own ward. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. i. 5 That no gouernaunce is to be holde of Cristen men the seruice or the lawe of God, saue [etc.]. 1456 Sc. Acts Jas. II (1814) II. 46/1 Item as to the feird artikill belangand þe pestilence and gouernance þerof The clergy thinkis þ{supt} [etc.]. 1559 N. Bacon in Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) I. ii. 78 A thing to be eschewed in all good governances. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 207 To enquire of the Foundation, Erection, and Governance of Hospitals. |
† 4. Conduct of life or business; mode of living, behaviour, demeanour. Also pl. proceedings, doings.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 170 (219) Her tale was broght to the ende, Of her astate, and of her governaunce. c 1400 Destr. Troy 656 All your gate and your gouernaunse graidly to telle. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. lxxxviii, Folk of religioun, That from the warld thaire gouernance did hide. 1426 Lydg. De Guileville's Pilgr. (E.E.T.S.) 3567, I ha..suffryd..That ye, by your gouernauncys My custommys & myn ordynauncys..Ye han ytournyd at your wyl. 1428 Surtees Misc. (1888) 9 Yat ye sayd John Lyllyng fra yan furth suld be of gude governance and trew in all his bying and hys sellyng. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xx, Many men wil than be of better gouernaunce. 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. v. 18 That procedeth of theyr folissh and outrageous gouernaunce. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 259 Be constant in ȝour gouernance, and counterfeit gud maneris. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. i. v. (1588) 31 Sufficient men..learned in the Lawe and of good gouernance. 1591 Spenser Muiopot. 384 He likest is to fall into mischaunce, That is regardles of his governaunce. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. vi. (1701) 243/1 Wise Princes ought not to be admired for their Government, but Governance. |
† b. Discreet or virtuous behaviour; wise self-command. Obs.
| c 1392 Chaucer Compl. Venus 9 In him is bountee, wisdom, governaunce, Wel more then any mannes wit can gesse. 1600 Holland Livy xlii. lxii. (1609) 1152 The manner..was, in time of adversitie to bear all out and set a good countenance, but in prosperitie to hold an even hand and to use governance [L. moderari animos]. |